Key support and holder therefor



April 6; 1940. l. GgLLER 2,197,217

KEY SUPPORT AND HOLDER THEREFOR Filed Oct. 3. 195a INVENTOR. J's/m 65amATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNlTED STATES OFFi-CE 13 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to key supports or hangers and a holderfor retaining said key supports or hangersin a conventional type of keycase. The invention is specifically directed o to a holder possessingstructural characteristics which permits the maintenance within the keycase of one or more key supports or hangers, and although the holder isconstructed so that key supports or hangers of any desired form may beemployed, the invention contemplates theemployment of key supports orhangers possessing improved structural features permitting their use asindividual. key rings.

This invention, in some respects is related to the invention disclosedin my United States Patent No. 2,145,477, dated January 31, 1939. It isbelieved, however, to possess improvements in the structuralcharacteristics of the holder and the key supports or hangers andfunctions in many respects quite differently from the inventiondisclosed in the application aforementioned.

It has been found desirable at times to-remove certain key supports orhangers from their key;

are also overcome by .the present invention. In.

addition to overcoming these disadvantages, it is within thecontemplation of the invention, not only to permit the fulfillment ofthe objects pointed out in my present pending application, but also toperform other functions hereafter to be more specifically pointed out.

One of the important cbjects of the invention is to provide key supportsor hangers which, when once they are confined'within the holder, positiiely prevent the keys supported thereby from being removed from saidsupports or hangers without first removing said supports or hangers.

As a corollary to the above object, the invention provides a holder forsaid key supports or hangers which safeguards against the accidentalremoval of the supports from the holder.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means forfacilitating the removal or 7 replacement or interchange of one or. moreof the key supports or hangers in a key case. of conventional designembodying the principles of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple but effectivemeans for locking the key l5 supports or hangers in the holder so thatthey cannot be removed without the manual manip-. ulation of saidlocking means;

Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder which iscapable of retaining one or more key supports or hangers but whichpermits the removal of one or more of said supports orhangers from saidholder with a minimum of manual manipulation of the locking means. a

. A further object of the invention is to provide a holder for aplurality of key supports or hangers which are positioned relativetosaid holder so that any one of the keys supported by said supports orhangers can be-se1ectively.secured. without interference from theotherkey supports or hangers. v

A very important object of the invention is to rovide improved keysupports or hangers which, though intended primarily for use as supportsfor a single key and in combination with'a key case, possess, to alimited degree, the characteristics of a key ring and thus may be usedindependently fromthe key case for the purpose of supporting andretaining more than'one key.

To accomplish the objects andv perform the functions heretoforementioned, the invention employs a holder for one or more key supportsor hangerswhich consists of a plate provided with two ends whichformbearings for a multislotted member that moves within said bearingsto expose or cover the ends of the slots. This multi-slotted member alsohas a member which'locks it against movement, when they slots arecovered. The hangers employed are confined within the slots and arecapable of swingable and pivotal movement therein. When the key supportsare confined within the slots of the, multi-slotted member and theseslots are covered and the member locked against movement, thekeysupports or hangers are securely retained within the holder. H

Other objects and advantages willbecome apparent from the descriptionwhich follows and which must be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing showing a preferred. form of the holder and several modifiedforms of the key supports or hangers embodying the principles of myinvention, each of which is exemplary of the principles of myinventionand in which Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a holderfor key supports or hangers embodying the principles of my invention andshowing but one key support embodying the principles of my inventionconfined within said holder, said holder being in locked position.

Figure 2 is a perspective front view of the holder shown in openposition.

Figure 3 is a side view of the holder and one of the key supports,showing the position of the holder when in locked position and whensecured to a flexible mounting.

Figure 4 is a top, plan View of the holder shown in Figures 1 to 3inclusive.

Figures 5 and 6 are elevational views of a key support or hangerembodying the preferred form of my invention, showing respectively theclosed position and the open position of the support.

Figures 7 and 8 are elevational views of a key support embodying aslightly modified form of construction disclosing respectively theclosed and open positions of the supports.

Figures 9 and 10 are elevational views disclosing still another slightlymodified key support and possessing substantially the same structuralcharacteristics as the support shown in Figures 5 and 6 butincorporating a somewhat difierent connecting method.

In the drawing corresponding parts having the same structuralcharacteristics will be identified by the same reference charactersthroughout the several views.

The holder employed as a supporting means for the key supports orhangers is composed of two principal members designated generally byreference characters A and B. The member, designated by referencecharacter A, is fabricated from a unitary sheet metal blank and isdivided into a top plate I and a bottom plate 2, lying in parallelspaced relation to each other. A spacer plate 3, equal in area to thetop plate I, is placed between top plate I and bottom plate 2. Thefunction of this spacer plate will shortly become apparent. Openings 4,5, and 6 are formed through plates 2, and 3 and receive rivets l thereinin order to secure the plates together and also to secure the holder toa cover 8 as shown in Figure 3. The cover may be of any conventionaltype and may be composed of leather or other flexible material.

An examination of Figures 1 to 3 inclusive 9 and it! which are disposedat the sides I l and 12' respectively of plate 2, The curvature ofmembers9 and in forms almost a true circle until they join and becomeintegrated with wall [3. Wall It extends upwardly from and at rightangles to plate L, It becomes evident that, as a result of thesestructural features, an elongated slot I4 is formedwhich is bounded bythe members 9 and lil the. wall I3, and the rear (not shown) of thebottom plate 2. It is within this slot l4 that the major portion ofmember B operates as will shortly appear.

Top. plate 1 has an integrally formed extension l5.laterally protrudingfrom side H beyond the remainder of plate l. A lug I6 is made integrallywith and extends downwardly from extension [5. The. function of this lugwill be explained forthwith. This completes the structuralcharacteristics of. the. member generally designated by the referencecharacter A.

A detailed description of the structural characteristics of the membergenerally designated by reference character B will now be given. MemberB is also fabricated from a unitary sheet metal blank. It consists of anarcuately shaped Wall ll, the length of which is slightly greater thanthe width of plates i and 2, A-plurality of fingers l8, arcuate incontour and made integral with the wall 17, are disposed in spaced,parallel relation to each other and form therebetween, as a result ofsuch spacing, a plurality of open-ended slots Ill. The curvature of thewall H and the fingers l8 would, if the fingers were extended to meetthe bottom 2!! of the wall IT, form a true circle. Member. B, formed asstated, is revolvably positioned between plates l and 2 and confinedwithin the slot I4 formed in member A. Two of the fingers l8, which forclarity are designated by numbers 58' .and [8, are disposed underarcuately shaped members 9 and I respectively, so that for practicalpurposes the under sides of arcuately shaped members 9 and Ill form abearing surface for these two fingers when the member 13 is actuated.

A shoulder 2i is formed at the end of the fingers i8 and anothershoulder 22 is formed at the end of finger I8". These shoulders 2| and22 confine the member B within the member A and prevent any lateralmovement of member B within member A once it is placed within member Aas stated.

An arm 23 extends from the wall H at substantially right angles thereto.This arm is twisted as at 24, so that the finger portion 25 lies in aplane at right angles to the plane of the remainder of the arm 23. Thearm 23 is of sumcient length'to permit the engagement of the fingerportion 25 under the lug l8 and, since there is no appreciable lateralmovement of the member B once it is positioned between plates I and 2with the arcuately shaped member id as bearings therefor, the springwithin the arm 23 is utilized to allow the finger portion 25 to beplaced under lug H in order to hold the member B against movement. Thiscompletes the description of the structural characteristics of member B.An explanation of its functions, when combined with member A will bepostponed until the structural characteristics of the key supports orhangers disclosed in Figures 5 to inclusive, are related.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing there is shown the closed and openpositions respectively of a key support embodying the preferred form ofthe invention. The support consists of a metallic member, generallydesignated by reference character C, having inherent spring qualitiesand which may be circular or flat in cross section. Member C is bent toform an elongated oval loop curved. as shown at 27, and forming legs 28and 29 which are gradually brought toward each other until they becomenearly parallel. as shown at 30 and 31 respectively. A member designatedgenerally by reference character D is secured to the end'of the leg .29.This member D is composed of two hemispherical portions 32 and 33 whichhave their fiat faces integrally joined to each other. portion 32 isslightly smaller than the diameter of the hemispherical portion 33, thusproviding an annular shoulder therebetween as indicated at 35.

A hollow hemispherical member 35 is secured to the end of leg 28. Thediameter of the hollow hemispherical member 35 is equal to the diameterof the hemispherical portion 33 and the The diameter of thehemispherical that its interior136 is in registerablealignment The legs28 andSZS of with the portion 32. key support C are positioned to seekcontact with each other near their parallel positions 30 and 3|. Thisnormal urge toward each other results in a spring pressure connectionand retention when the hollow hemispherical. member .35 is allowed to'cover the hemispherical-portion 32. By'this arrangement the periphery'31 of member 35 abuts the shoulder 34, thus'insur 'ing a tightconnection between the portion 32 and the member 35 so that a key willremain confined Within, the 1001:. When the member 35 covers portion 32;ahead possessing a spheri-- cal outside contour is formed asshowninFigure 5. i i

In Figures 9 andlO there is showna key sup port or hanger embodyingsubstantially the same elements which are employed in the key supportshown in Figures 5 and 6 heretofore described.

The difierence may be found in theipositions assumed by member D andhollow cylindrical member 35. It will be seen that the hemisphericalportion 32 is placed with its face downward and that the-hollowhemispherical member 35 assumes the position of a ladle with thelportion3B bent as shown at 38 and the leg 28' made. slightly longer. These arethe only difierences between the key support shown in Figures 5 and 6and the key support shown in Figures 9 and 10.

The greatest diiference is found in the method employed in securing thehollow spherical member 35 to hemispherical portion 32. To'accomplishthis it is necessary to slightly press leg 28 downwardly against-itsnormal spring force in order to permit the hollow hemispherical member35 to frictionally fit over the portion, 32. It is evident that such anarrangement takes advantage to the fullest extent of the naturalspringiness of the material from whichthe key supports are made and thata positive locking engagement is provided j'between the legs and, inaddition, there results from such an arrangement a spherical headdesirable for operative connection to the holder, as shown in Figure 9.

Another modified form of construction which maybe employed in the keysupport is found in Figures 7 and 8. It is evident that no changes areto be found in the legs of loop C, but all changes are confined to themembers. secured to the ends of the legs 28 and 29. Leg 2B terminates ina bowed shaped fingerts and has a bowed cross piece Ell intersecting it'at right angles. Leg 2S terminates in a spherical member 4! having agroove 42 (shown in dotted line) and another groove 48 intersecting eachother and possessing the same degreeof curvature as the finger 39 andcross piece lii respectively. The

position of the-grooves in the spherical member M coincides with theposition of the finger and cross piece so that, when the leg 25 isallowed to exercise its normal urge toward leg 29, the finger will enterinto groove 82 and the cross piece will enter into groove 63, resultingin an unimpaired spherical member as'shown in Figure '7. I

Any one of the key supports heretofore described and disclosedin'Figures 5130 10 inclusive may be inserted into openeended slots [9 asshown in Figures 1, L n-and 4. The width of the open-ended slots 19 andthe curved area .ing a key support'and holdertherefor embody- Figure 2will disclose that member B has been I tion to eachother for the greaterpart of their" formed .by fingers 185. is sufiicient to allow widelatitude for .swingable and swivelable movement to the ball head formedat the ends of the legs of the supports as heretofore stated. Thus itbecomes apparent that when a key is strung upon the loop or the supportC and the ball head is confined within a -slot, the key may be retainedin a pendant position or, when desired, may be moved within limits inpractically any direction desired. l 1Q Modus operandi Having related indetail the structural characteristics of the elements employed inprovid- 1 ing the principles of the invention, it is deemed advisable topoint out the mode of operation of the various elements. Anexaminationof revolved within the slot M so that the open ends oftheslots H) are exposed. When member B is thus positioned, any key supportshown in Figures 5 to 10 inclusive may be inserted into any one of theslots Iii so that the ball, head fits into the area formed by thecurvature of the arms is. After the supports are thus inserted intotheslots, downward pressure is employed upon the finger portion 25,causing memberB to be revolved on its axis and thus bring fingers i8 andthe open ends of the slots lilinto position to be covered by wall is andimprisoning the balluheads of the key supports C as shown in Figuresli3, and 4 Within their respective slots 69. In order to insure againstthe accidental .35 revolving ,of member B on its axis, the fingerportion 25: is iorced under the lug l6 and is rep tained there by theinherent spring qualities, of the arm ,23. The spacer plate 3 leavessufficient roombetween top plate and bottom plate 2 for inserting thefinger portion under the lug. By this arrangement, it is impossible to,remove the key supports from the slots (and consequently the keys strungthereon) without first disengaging the finger portion 25 from under lugl6 and revolving member B to expose the open ends of slots l9.

From the above description it will be readily seen that key supports and.a holder therefor have been produced whichcan substantially fulfill theobjects of the invention set forth herein.

While the invention has been described with considerable particularityin order that the best form ofthe invention maybe readily understood,the invention is not to be considered as limited to the specific detailshereinbefore. set forth, since changes may be made in' any ofthe'details of construction withoutdeparting from the true spirit of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is:

1. Ina key case of the class described, atop plate and abottom plateformedirom a singlesheet of metal, said plates secured in-juxtapq barea, a wall extending upwardly from the top plate, a pair of arcuatelyshaped portions disposed opposite each other and integrally secured tosaid wall and to the bottom plate, said portions and wall formingtherebetween an elongated slot, a key supports retaining memberrotationally positioned within said slot and said arcuately shapedportions, said portions acting. as bearings therefor, and a plurality ofkey supports insertable within said member for pivotal and swivelablemovement therein.

2. In a key case of the class described, a top plate and a bottom plateformed from a single sheet of metal, said plates secured injuxtaposition to each other, a pair of arcuately shaped portions.disposed opposite each other and integrally secured to said plates, saidportions forming therebetween an elongated slot, a member confinedwithin said slot and rotationally positioned with respect to saidarcuately shaped portions, means within said member adapted to receivekey supports therein, and a plurality of key supports insertable withinsaid means for pivotal and swivelable movement therein.

3. In a key case of the class described, a top plate and a bottom plateformedfrom a single sheet of metal, a pair of arcuately formed portionsintegrally secured to said plates, said portions positioned at the sidesof said plates and opposite each other and forming a slot therebetween,a member confined within said slot and rotationally positioned withrespect to said plates, said portions forming bearings therefor, meansfor preventing the removal of said memher from its rotational position,and a plurality of key supports removably positioned within said memberand adapted for pivotal and swivelable movement therein.

4. In a key case of the class described, a top plate and a bottom plateformed from asingle sheet of metal, a pair of arcuately formed portionsintegrally joined to said plates, a keysupports retaining memberrotationally positioned under said portions and between said plates,said arcuately formed portions forming bearings for the key supportsretaining member means for preventing removal of said member,

means formed within said member for receiving key supports therein, anda plurality of, key supports removably positioned within saidlastmentioned means.

5. In a key case of the class described, a top plate and a bottom plateformed from a single sheet of metal, said plates being in juxtapositionwith respect to each other for the greater part of their area, a wallextending upwardly from the top plate, a pair of arcuately shapedmembers disposed opposite each other and integrally secured to the walland to thebottom plate and forming an elongated slot therebetween, amember rotationally positioned within said slot, and between thearcuately shaped members, means formed within. said member formingsockets therein, means for preventing the removal of said member fromsaid elongated slot, means for locking said member against rotation, anda plurality of key supports insertable within said sockets for pivotaland swivelable movement therein.

6. A key case assembly comprising, a metallic member bent upon itself toform two supporting plates positioned in juxtaposition to each other,said plates having a cut-out portion located at the meeting margin ofthe two plates, a pair of beaded portions defining said cut-out portion,a wall extending from the top plate and joined to the beaded portions,means rotationally mounted within the cut-out portion and the beadedportions for holding a plurality of key supports, means for preventingthe removal of said firstmentioned means from said cut-out portion, and

means forslocking-said first-mentioned means against rotation.

7. A device characterized as in claim 6 including a plurality of keysupports pivotally and swivelably positioned within said first-mentionedmeans the means for locking the first-mentioned means against rotationcomprises an arm extending at right angles to said means and a lugdepending from the top plate, said arm adapted for placement in abuttingposition to said lug.

10. A key case assembly comprising a unitary member bent upon itself toform two plates, a wall extending upwardly from the top plate, a pair ofbeaded portions secured to said wall and to the bottom plate andpositioned at the marginal ends of said plates, a unitary key-supportsretaining member rotationally connected to the firstmientioned memberand confined between said beaded portions, said beaded portions actingas bearings for said second unitary member, said second membercomprising a plurality of arcuately shaped fingers disposed intransverse, spaced, parallel relation and forming therebetween aplurality of open-ended slots, said member being rotatable with relationto said first member so that the open ends of said slots may be coveredor uncovered as desired, a plurality of key supports disposed withinsaid slots and adapted for pivotal and swivelable movement therein, andmeans for rotating said second member ior covering or uncovering saidslots.

11. A device characterized as in claim 10 including means secured to thetop plate of the first-mentioned member for locking the second unitarymember against rotation.

12. A key case of the class described comprising, a unitary member bentupon itself to form two plates, a wall extending upwardly from the topplate, a pair of beaded portions secured to said wall and tothe bottomplate and positioned at the marginal ends of said plates, and a unitarykey supports retaining member rotationally connected to thefirst-mentioned member and operatively confined between said beadedportions, said beaded portions acting as bearings for said unitary keysupports retaining member, said unitary key supports retaining membercomprising a plurality of arcuately shaped fingers disposed intransverse, spaced, parallel relation and forming a plurality ofopen-ended slots therebetween, said unitary key supports retainingmember being rotatable with relation to said plate forming member sothat the open ends of said slots may be. covered or uncovered asdesired.

13. A key case characterized as in claim 12 including means for rotatingthe unitary key supports retaining member within the plate formingmember for covering or uncovering said slots,

ISAAC GELLER.

